SWANS are said to be all smooth on the surface and a flurry of activity under the water. That is not quite the case with one bird on the Grand Western Canal in Tiverton, Devon.

Last week he sank an inflatable kayak and the poor bloke had to swim to shore

Tony Nixon

Angry Albert has been unsettling canoeists and kayakers along a 400-yard stretch of the waterway where he nests at the bottom of retired joiner Tony Nixon's garden.

He has taken against anyone going near lifelong mate Victoria and their three newly-hatched cygnets.

Tony, 70, said: "Last week he sank an inflatable kayak and the poor bloke had to swim to shore. Kayakers who know him get out of the water at the first bridge and walk along the towpath on the opposite side until they get to the other bridge."

The huge bird flies low at about 30mph to scare people.

The huge bird flies low at about 30mph to scare people (Image: TONY NIXON/MAGNUS NEWS)

"It's supposed to be all threat but often he ends up landing on top of the boat," said Tony. "And he flaps his wings so hard it sounds like he's hitting the boat with a lump hammer."

Paul Stancliffe, of the British Trust for Ornithology said: "They'll defend their nest but a lot of this is display."